As women's health unit might relocate to Janeway, pediatricians worry for future of N.L.'s children's hospital
NDP tabled a report from doctors, citing their concerns for children's care
Soon, some patients at the Janeway children's hospital might be adult women, according to the province's $3-million redevelopment plan.
Under this shift, obstetrics and gynecology could relocate to the fourth floor of the Janeway, which Interim Health Minister John Haggie says has been vacant.
"It's an empty space," Haggie said. "It's empty because there's no patients."
But some of Janeway's pediatricians say the fourth floor is needed. The physicians are so concerned they wrote a 30-page report to Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
According to the doctors, the fourth floor of the Janeway is used for complex care, mental health services and subspecialty clinics, such as the Children and Youth in Alternate Care clinic. On March 11, that clinic was told it would be moving within six weeks.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn says the doctors were not consulted about the province's plan to open the Janeway to women over 18. He tabled their report, titled Preserve, Protect, Prioritize, in the House of Assembly on Monday.
"This kind of report tells you just how angry they are and how little their opinion mattered," Dinn said.
The move was announced in this year's budget speech, when Finance Minister Siobhan Coady said the relocation would "create additional inpatient bed capacity."
But pediatricians disagree.
In the report, the doctors worry the move will compromise pediatric care, as well as donations.
"Janeway infrastructure, equipment, and spaces have been funded by donors with the understanding they support pediatric care only," the report states.
It argues that if women's health services move to the children's hospital, the intent of the donations is violated, which could have legal implications, as well as possibly impact donor trust and future fundraising.
Dinn says the province has little concern for its children's hospital, pointing to the freezers housing unclaimed bodies from the Health Sciences in the Janeway's underground parking garage.
"Where did the freezers go for the bodies but into the parking lot in the basement of the Janeway," he said.
PC Leader Tony Wakeham wants the province to consult the doctors.
"If you really want to fix health care in our province, you have to talk to the people who work in it," he said.
Meanwhile, Haggie says the province hasn't seen the doctors' report.
"We're not aware of receiving any document from physicians."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
